


THE 



VITAL STATISTICS OF BOSTON; 



CONTAINING 



AN ABSTRACT OF THE BILLS OF MORTALITY 



FOR THE LAST TWENTY-NINE YEARS, 



A GENERAL VIEW OF THE POPULATION AND HEALTH OF 
THE CITY AT OTHER PERIODS OF ITS HISTORY. 



LEMUEL SHATTUCK 



Extracted from the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, April, 1841. 



PHILADELPHIA: 
LEA & BLANCHARD. 

1841. 



ON THE 



VITAL STATISTICS OF BOSTON 



The oldest book of records of births in Boston was commenced in 1639, and 
contains some of the marriages, births, and deaths of the previous years, as 
early as 1630, and of the subsequent years, as late as 1663. This book also 
contains the births in several towns in Middlesex county, previous to its or- 
ganization in 1 647, and of Suffolk county, then including the present county 
of Norfolk, until 1663. Another volume embracing the period from 1663 
to 1689, appears to have been lost; but a volume containing the records of 
births only from the earliest entries until 1689, copied from the oldest book, 
and the one supposed to have been lost, is still preserved. The next volume 
of records of births extends from 1689 to 1744, the next from 1744 to 1819. 
The last comprises but few pages. The records appear to have been very 
irregularly and imperfectly kept after about 1750, and some whole years have 
recently occurred in which very few records of this kind were made. During 
the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1838, one birth only was recorded. In some 
instances the births of one year are placed together in alphabetical order, in 
others those of several years are placed together in the same manner. 

The marriages prior to 1663, were recorded in the oldest book with the 
births and deaths. From that time to 1689, the records of marriages are lost. 
Since then they are contained in five volumes. The 1st extends from 1689 
to 1720; the 2d from 1720 to 1751; the 3d from 1761 to 1807; the 4th 
from 1807 to 1828; and the 5th from 1828 to the present time, though not 
in consecutive, annual order. No records are preserved of the marriages 
from 1663 to 1689, or from 1751 to 1761, and it is believed that very many 
1 



4 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

occurred in nearly all the years which have not been recorded. Great care- 
lessness and negligence prevails with some clergymen and magistrates in 
keeping the records, and in making the returns. The " intentions of mar- 
riage" are preserved in twelve volumes, extending from 1707 to the present 
time. Those from 1818 to 1823, are lost. 

The records of deaths are made with the births and marriages prior to 1663. 
From that time until 1689 they are lost. From 1689 to 1719 they are pre- 
served in a separate volume; and from that time till 1810 very few deaths 
are recorded, and such as are, appear in the volume with the births. 

None of these volumes of records, either of births, marriages, or deaths, 
are provided with indexes; and a search for a fact concerning the personal 
history of an individual — the only object for which they are valuable — is 
attended with great labor, and is often fruitless even when the desired fact is 
recorded. The records are so imperfect, that no general results of any value 
in statistics, to determine the law of population, or of mortality, could be 
drawn from any abstract which we could make. It is much to be regretted 
that our system of registration is such, that we cannot present, in any period 
of our history, an accurate account of the number of births and marriages. 
We hope to see a system of registration soon adopted, which will supply 
all existing deficiencies.* 

From 1701 to 1774, the keepers of the several burying-grounds made 
returns once a week of the number of deaths in Boston, specifying the 
whites and blacks separately, but not their ages. The number of baptisms 
was also returned by the several clergymen. Both were published in the 
newspapers from 1731 to 1774. From these returns an annual statement 
was compiled and published. We have collected these annual statements, 
and arranged them with that of the population, in a table, [see Table I,) 
which exhibits some important information in regard to the health and con- 
dition of the town during that period. These returns may be relied on 
with considerable confidence, as being very nearly correct. The population 
of Boston was estimated at the beginning of the last century to have been 
about 6,750, and the annual deaths to be 230 — one in 29.3, or 3.4 per 
cent. The deaths from 1705 to 1714, inclusive, were 3,341, and from 
1715 to 1724, 4,350, giving an annual average of about 1 in 24, or 4.09 
per cent. I have estimated the population in the period from 1725 to 
1734, according to two enumerations, one taken in 1722, the other in 1735. 
The census was taken in 1742, in 1752, and in 1765, which forms the basis 
of the estimation in the other periods mentioned. It will be perceived that 



* The author of this article has obtained a knowledge of the different systems of regis- 
tration of births, deaths, and marriages in use in Europe, and he has prepared one which 
seemed to him best adapted to the institutions of our own country. He has been solicited 
to bring it before the state legislatures for adoption. 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



Boston contained more population from 1740 to 1745, than at any other 
period before the revolution. 

Table I, showing the progress of the population in Boston, for the fifty years from 1724 
to 1774 divided into periods of 10 years each. 



In regard to 


1725-1734 


1735-1744 


1745-1754 


1755-1764 


1765-1774 


Population. — White 


11900 


14750 


14190 


14390 


14672 


Black 


1100 


1250 


1541 


1241 


848 


Total 


13000 


16000 


15731 


15631 


15520 


Average annual Baptisms 


528 


578 


474 


413 


443 


Population to 1 baptism . 


24 


28 


33 


38 


35 


Deaths to 100 baptisms . 


77 


82 


123 


107 


104 


Average annual Deaths. — 












Whites . 


407 


479 


585 


444 


462 


Blacks 


95 


91 


86 


70 


59 


Both 


502 


570 


671 


514 


521 


White population to 1 death 


29 


30 


24 


36 


31 


Deaths in 100 white popula- 












tion 


3.42 


2.99 


4.12 


3.08 


3.16 


Black population to 1 death 


12 


14 


18 


18 


14 


Deaths in 100 black popula- 












tion 


8.63 


7.28 


5.58 


5.64 


6.95 


Whole population to 1 death 


26 


28 


23 


34 


30 


Deaths to 100 whole popula- 












tion 


3.86 


3.56 


4.26 


3.28 


3-35 


Baptisms to 100 deaths . 


129 


120 


81 


93 


95 



It was customary, at that early period, to baptize nearly all the infants, 
but toward the last part of the time, embraced in the table, the practice began 
to be neglected. The returns of baptisms should not, therefore, be taken as 
a complete return of the births. We made an attempt to obtain the number 
of marriages, but the records are so imperfect it was abandoned. 

It will be perceived, by comparing this table with others directly to be 
presented, that the mortality in Boston was much higher then than at the 
present time. The lowest mortality was in 1755 to 1764, being 514 — 
one in 34, or 3.24 per cent, of the population, annually; the highest was in 
1745 to 1754, being 671 — one in 23, or 4.26 per cent. This is just double 
the mortality, which prevailed in 1826 to 1835, being then only 2.13 
per cent. The lowest mortality in any single year was 407, or 1 in 38, in 
1763; the highest 909, or 1 in 14, in 1730, and 1009, or 1 in 15, in 1752. 

The mortality of the black, was much greater than that of the white 
population. In the first period mentioned in the table, it was as low as at 
any time. One in 18, or 5.64 per cent, of the black population, died, show- 
ing a difference of 2.56 per cent., as compared with the mortality of the 
whites. The highest mortality among the blacks was in 1725 to 1734, 
beino- 1 in 12, or 8.64 per cent. These are very striking facts, but are 
accounted for, in some measure, by the prevalence of the small-pox and 
other epidemics, which often visited the town at that time, and which seem 
to have been peculiarly fatal to the black population. 



6 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

The Small-Pox prevailed in Boston as an epidemic in 1649, 1666, 1678, 
1690, and 1702. It is said to have been very fatal in 1678, but we have no 
particular account of the number of its victims. In 1702, 302 died of this dis- 
ease, being about 44 per 1000 of the inhabitants. In 1721, the disease broke 
out with great violence; and 5759 persons (more than half the inhabitants,) 
had it the natural way, of whom 844, or 1 in 7 died. Inoculation was then, 
for the first time, introduced, but not without great opposition. Two hundred 
and forty-seven were inoculated, of whom 6, or 1 in 42 died. Mather, who 
wrote an account of the epidemic at that time, says that " Cats had a regu- 
lar small-pox, and died of it;" and that " pigeons and dunghill fowls did not 
lay nor hatch" during the prevalence of the disorder! In 1730, it has been 
estimated that 4,000 cases occurred, of which about one-tenth were by inoc- 
ulation. Of these about 500 died. 

In 1752, the disease again appeared in Boston, and became very fatal. 
The town then contained 15,684 inhabitants; of these 5,998 were supposed 
to have had the disease. One thousand eight hundred and forty-three re- 
moved out of town. All the remainder, except 174, had the disease by 
inoculation, or the natural way. We have compiled the following statement, 
to illustrate the prevalence of the disease at this period: — 



Persons. 

Whites . 
Black . 
Both 


Natural. 


I 


noculated. 


Cases. 

5060 

485 

5545 


Deaths. 

470 

69 

539 


Ratio per 
1000. 

92 
142 

97 


Cases. 


Deaths. 


Ratio per 
1000. 


1985 

139 

2124 


24 

6 

30 


12 
43 
14 



It appears from this statement, that the liability to death by this disease 
among the blacks, was about 50 per cent, greater than among the whites, 
when taken in the natural way; and more than three times as great, when 
taken by inoculation. The deaths took place in the different months of the 
year, as follows: — 





Natu 


ral. 


Inoculated. 




Month. 










Total. 


Whites. 
1 


Blacks. 


Whites. 


Blacks. 


January 


— 


— 


— 


1 


February 


2 


— 


— 


— 


2 


March 


2 


— 


— 


— 


2 


April 


20 


1 


20 


6 


47 


May 


205 


39 


4 


— 


248 


June 


203 


20 


— 


— 


223 


July 


31 


8 


— 


— 


39 


August 


5 


1 


— 


— 


6 


September 
Total 


1 


— 


— 


— 


1 


470 


G9 


24 


6 


569 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 7 

In the twenty days, beginning May 19, there were 220 deaths, averaging 
10 per day. On the 1st June, 25 took place. 

This disease occurred again in 1764, in 1776, in 1778, and in 1792. The 
following statement exhibits its ravages in the last named period. The town 
then contained about 18,000 inhabitants, of whom 10,655 were supposed 
to have had the disease, 262 removed out of town, and 221 only remained 
unaffected, liable to the disease. The rest had it. The cases by the natural 
way, and by inoculation, were as follow: — 



Persons. 

White 
Black 
Both 


Natural. 


Inoculated. 


Cases. 


Deaths 


Ratio per 
1000. 


Cases. 


Deaths 


Ratio per 
1000. 


214 

18 

232 


27 

6 

33 


125 
333 
141 


8804 

348 

9152 


157 

7 

165 


17 
20 

18 



The following table exhibits a view of the disease at every period of its 
appearance in Boston, after 1720:— 



Year. 


Cases. 


Deaths 


Ratio per 1000 ot 
the population. 


Natural. 


Inoculated. 


Sick. 


Died. 


Cises 


Deaths 


Ratio 
per 1000. 


Cases. 


Deaths 


Rntio 
per 1000. 


172i 
1 730 
1752 
1764 
1776 
1778 
17:2 


6006 
41100 

7 69 
5646 
5-92 
2 43 

8 46 


S50 
500 
569 
170 
57 
61 
198 


546 
266 
489 
364 
441 
166 
460 


77 
33 
36 
11 
10 
4 
10 


5759 
3600 
5545 
669 
304 
122 
232 


844 

488 

539 

124 

29 

42 

33 


148 
135 

97 
185 

95 
344 
142 


247 
400 
2124 
4977 
4988 
2121 
8114 


6 
12 
30 
46 
18 
29 
165 


24 

30 

17 

9 

5 

9 

18 



Measles prevailed in 1713, 1729, 1759, and 1772, and was the cause of 
many deaths. 

In 1745, an epidemic fever occurred of a very fatal character. 

The Scarlet fever was first introduced into Boston in 1735, and during 
that and the next year was very prevalent. About 4000 persons were sick 
with it, of whom 1 in 35 died. At this time it spread generally through the 
New England towns, carrying off in some instances whole families. In 
Kingston, where the usual annual mortality was not above 9 or 10, it rose 
in 1735 to 102, and this great increase of mortality was not unusual in other 
places. It is somewhat singular, that after the lapse of just about a cen- 
tury, it should have prevailed again as one of the most fatal diseases of New 
England. 

A new system of registration for the deaths only went into operation in 

Oct. 1810, and has since been continued with some slight modifications. 

These records are all preserved. At first the town was divided into three 

districts, the north, middle, and south, and a separate register kept for each, 

2 



8 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



under the direction of the Board of Health. The particulars recorded were, 
1st, The date of death and burial; 2d, The age and sex; 3d, To what family 
belonging; 4th, The disease, or cause of death; 5th, The number or name 
of the tomb where interred, designating the burial ground, and whether a 
citizen or stranger; and, 6th, Remarks. The district system was given up 
in 1822, at the incorporation of the city, and the office of superintendent of 
burial grounds was created. This office has since been filled by Mr. 
Samuel H. Hewes, and he has kept the records of the deaths of the whole 
city. A " General Abstract of the Bill of Mortality" has been printed an- 
nually since 1811, specifying the number of deaths each month in the year, 
distinguishing the males from the females, and the ages under 1; 1 to 2; 2 
to 5; 5 to 10; 10 to 20, and each decennial period afterwards to 100. These 
abstracts specify also the number of deaths by each disease, but not the age, 
sex, season, and other particulars, which ought to have been noticed. 
Heavy penalties were imposed for burying without permission; and it is 
presumed that all, or very nearly all, the deaths that have taken place in the 
city are recorded. And the " bills," as far as they go, contain a faithful 
abstract of the records, and may be generally relied on as correct. 

Table II, showing the distribution of the population of Boston according to age, sex, and 
colour, at seven different enumerations. 



Ages. 


1765. 


1790. 


Males. 


Females. 


Differ'e. 


Total. 


Males. 

3376 
4325 

7701 
7701 


Females. 


Difference. 

—1875 

—1875 


Total. 

17277 
761 

18038 


Under 16 . . . 
16 and upwards 

Whites . . . 
Coloured . . . 

Total . . . 

Under 10 . . 
10 to 16 . . .. 
16 to 26 . . . 
26 to 45 . . . 
45 and upwards 

Whites . . . 
Coloured . . . 

Total . . . 

Under 10 . . 
10 to 16 . . . 
16 to 26 . . . 
26 to 45 . . . 
45 and upwards 

Whites . - . 
Coloured . . . 

Total . . . 


4109 
2941 


4010 
3612 


+99 
—671 


8119 

6553 


7050 
531 

7581 


7622 
317 


—572 
+ 14 


14672 

848' 


9576 
9576 


7939 


—558 


15520 


1800. 


1810. 


3057 
1406 
2478 
2999 
1334 

11274 
11274 


3083 
1499 
2998 
3110 
1799 

12489 
12489 


—26 

—93 

—520 

—111 

—465 

—1215 


61401 

2905 

5476 
6109 
3133 

23763 
1174 

24937 


4391 

1860 
3578 
4165 
1346 


4349 
2081 
3989 
4140 

1887 


+42 
—221 
—411 

+25 
—541 


874(1 
3941 
7567 
8305 
3233 


15340 
15340 


16446 
16446 


—1106 
—1106 


31786 
1464 

33250 


—1215 


1820. 


1825. 


5283 
2416 
3564 
7345 

1500 


5399 
2965 
4544 
5973 
2569 


— 116 

—549 

—980 

+ 1372 

—1069 


10682 
5381 
8108 

13318 
4069 


6206 
3061 
7622 

8458 
2560 


6309 
3616 

7589 
7739 
3204 


—103 

—555 

+33 

+719 
—644 


12515 

66771 

15211 

16197 
5764 


20108 
809 


21450 
931 


—1342 
—122 


41558 
1740 

43298 


27907 
974 


28453 
943 


—550 
+31 


56364] 
1917 


20917 


22381 


1464 


28881 


29396 


—515 


5828! 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



1830. 























Ages. 


Hales. 


Females. 


Diff'nce. 


Total. 


Proportion 

of females to 

100 males. 


Pl-opor. 
tion each 
age. j 


Suryiv'g. 


Propor- 
tion sur- 
viving. 


surviving 
each age 
that are in 


Under 5 


















next age. 


3818 


4001 


—186 


7822 


104.87 


13.14 


59517 


100. — 


13.14 


5 to 10 


2941 


2978 


—37 


5919 


101.25 


9.95, 


51695 


86.86 


11.44 


10 to 20 


5631 


6391 


—757 


12025 


113.43 


20.20 ! 


45776 


,a 76.91 


26.26 


20 to 30 


7729 


7958 


—229 


15687 


102.96 


26.36 


33751 


56.71 


46.47 


30 to 40 


4132 


4661 


—529 


8793 


112.80 


14.78 


18064 


30.35 


48.67 


40 to 50 


2168 


2698 


—530 


4866 


124.44 


8.18 


9271 


15.57 


52.48 


50 to 60 


1077 


1413 


—336 


2490 


131.19 


4.18 


4405 


7.39 


56.52 


60 to 70 


475 


801 


—326 


1276 


168.63 


2.14 


1915 


3.21 


66.63 


70 to 80 


164 


325 


—161 


489 


198.17 


.82 


639 


1.07 


76.52 


80 to 90 


31 


105 


—74 


136 


338.70 


23 


150 


.25 


90.66 


90 tolOO 
Whites 


2 


12 


— 10 


14 


600.00 


3 


14 


.02 


100.— 


28171 


31316 


—3175 


59517 


111.26 


100.00 








Colored 


865 
29036 


1.010 


—145 


1875 


116.76 








~~ 


Total 


32.356 


—3320 


61392 


111.43 


1 







Tables of an improved form might have been prepared from the exist- 
ing records, but to render them as perfect as they ought to be, some modi- 
fication in the system of keeping the records is necessary. We have 
compiled from the series of printed abstracts, now before us, several tables, 
containing important facts and deductions in relation to the vital statistics 
of Boston. Some others might have been presented had we gone back 
to the original records, but they would hardly have paid the great labour 
required for compilation. To render these tables more clearly understood, 
the condition of the population should be known. We have, therefore, com- 
piled several tables from the different censuses, to illustrate this point. 

We have already given an account of the population of Boston previous 
to 1775. Table II presents the particulars of the population according to 
the several different enumerations from 1765 to 1830. From this table we 
have compiled the following abstract, to exhibit the increase of the popula- 
tion: — 

Table III, showing the increase of the population at eight enumerations, from 1790 to 

1837. 







Actual 


ncrease. 


Increase 


per cent. 




Square 


Years. 


Population. 










One in 


y'rds to 














Total. 


Annual. 


Total. 


Annual. 




each. 


1790 


18.038 

















201 


1800 


24.937 


6899 


689.9 


38.24 


3.82 


26 


145 


1810 


33.250 


8313 


831.3 


33.33 


3.33 


30 


109 


1820 


43.298 


10048 


1004.8 


30 22 


3.02 


33 


83 


1825 


58.281 


14983 


2996.6 


34.60 


6.92 


14 


64 


1830 


61.392 


3111 


6222 


5.33 


1.06 


94 


62 


1835 


78.603 


17211 


3442.2 


28.03 


5.60 


17 


49 


1837 


80.325 


1722 


861.0 


2.19 


1.09 


91 


49 



From this statement it appears that the greatest increase of the population 
was from 1820 to 1825, being 14,983, equal to an annual increase of 6.92 



10 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



per cent., or 1 in 14. The least increase was in 1825 to 1830, being only 
1.06 per cent, annually. The whole increase from 1790 to 1837, was 445.3 
per cent., or doubling the first mentioned number about 4£ times. 

In 1796, Boston, exclusive of South Boston, was estimated to contain 
750 acres, or 3,630,000 square yards, including the streets. This may not 
have been strictly correct, but was an approximation to the truth; and proba- 
bly the inhabited parts do not now contain more than that quantity of terri- 
tory. This would give 201 square yards to each inhabitant in 1790, and 
49 in 1837, being an increased density of 5 to 1. 

Table IV, showing the population living at each age of the different sexes. 



Age. 


Proportion of Females to 100 Males 


Proportion of population living at each age. 


1800 


1810 


1820 


1825 


1800 


1810 


1S20 


1825 


Under 10 
10 to 16 
16 to 26 
26 to 45 
45 and 
upwards 


100,85 
106.61 
120.98 
103.70 

134.81 


99.04 
111.88 
111.48 

99.39 

140.19 


102.19 

122.72 

127.49 

81.32 

17133 


101.65 

111.59 

99.56 

91.49 

125.11 


25. «4 
12.23 
23.04 
25.71 

13.18 


27.50 
12.40 
23.80 
26.13 

10.17 


25.74 
12.97 
19.51 
31.99 

9.79 


22.20 
11.84 
26 99 

28.74 

10.23 


Total. 


110.77 


107.30 


102.10 


101.96 


100.00 


100.00 1 100.00 


100.00 



The proportion of living males to living females deserves consideration. 
There have been in Boston more females than males. The proportion of 
the aggregate number of each sex of all ages was in 1790, as 100 males to 
104.72 females, and in 1800, as 100 to 110.77. The proportion, however, 
became more equal in 1825, when it was reduced, and was as 100 to 
101.96. In 1830, it was as 100 to 11 1.43. These facts will appear from 
Table IV, which also shows the census of 1830, and the proportion of each 
sex living at the different ages. In 18 1C there were less females than males 
living under 10 years. At all other periods under 26 years, excepting 1825, 
there were more females than males. In the ages 26 to 45, there were more 
males than females at each enumeration excepting 1800. Above 45 there 
were from 25 to 70 per cent, more females than males. The most striking 
difference was in 1820. The proportion of the sexes then changes in the 
ages 26 to 45; to the ages 45 and upwards, from 81.52 to 171.33 percent., 
a difference of 90 per cent. This shows the changeable nature of our popu- 
lation. The ages of 24 to 45 embrace the transient inhabitants — persons 
in single life, who come here to reside a kw years, and afterwards remove. 
The proportion of population living at all ages will also appear from this 
table. 

In the census for 1830, we have exhibited the proportion of males to 
females, and the proportion of both, living at each age; the number sur- 
viving, and the proportion per cent, of the surviving at each age; and the 
proportion of the number surviving each age, that do not attain the next 
higher age. These deductions are important, as showing the laws of lon- 
gevity. 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



11 



The proportion of white to coloured population has been about the same 
at each of the enumerations, excepting the last two, when the whites had 
increased, as will appear from the following statement: 

Proportion. In 1790. In 1800. In 1310. In 1820. 
Of whites, 95.78 95.30 95.60 95.98 
Of coloured, 4.22 4.70 4.40 4.02 



In 1825. In 1830. 

96.71 96.95 

3.29 3.05 



100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 

This shows that in 1790, of the whole population, 95.78 per cent, were 
white, and the remainder, 4.22, were coloured. In 1830, the proportion of 
whites had increased, and the coloured decreased, 1.17 per cent. 

Table V, showing the influences of the different years on the number of the deaths, dis- 
tinguishing the males from the females, and the stillborn, and the proportion to the popu- 
lation. 



Years. 


Population. 


Deaths. 


Propo 
popu 


rtion to 
ation. 


















Males. 


Females 


Uiffnce. 


Total. 


Stil 
bon 


Total. 


One in 


Percent 


1811 


34.255 


373 


375 


—2 


748 


46 


794 


45 


2.18 


1812 


35.260 


286 


347 


—61 


633 


48 


681 


55 


1.85 


1813 


36.264 


416 


334 


+82 


750 


36 


786 


48 


2.06 


1814 


37.269 


367 


328 


+39 


695 


32 


727 


53 


1.86 


1815 


38.274 


407 


433 


— 16 


830 


21 


851 


46 


2.16 


'1816 


39.279 


440 


433 


+7 


873 


31 


904 


45 


2.22 


1817 


40.284 


453 


422 


+31 


875 


33 


908 


46 


2.17 


1818 


41.288 


486 


439 


+47 


927 


46 


971 


44 


2.23 


1819 


42.293 


423 


366 


+57 


789 


89 


878 


53 


1.86 


1820 


43.298 


505 


509 


—4 


1014 


89 


1103 


42 


2.31 


Mean. 




415.6 


397.6 


+180 


813.2 


47.1 


860.3 


47 


2.09 


1821 


46.295 


678 


643 


+35 


1321 


99 


1420 


35 


2.85 


1822 


49.291 


570 


518 


+52 


1088 


115 


1203 


45 


2.20 


1823 


52.288 


531 


514 


+ 17 


1045 


109 


1154 


50 


1.99 


1824 


55.284 


623 


585 


+38 


1208 


89 


1297 


4.5 


2.18 


1825 


58.281 


692 


670 


+22 


1362 


88 


1450 


42 


2.33 


1826 


58.903 


623 


544 


+79 


1167 


87 


1254 


50 


1.98 


1827 


59.525 


495 


444 


+51 


939 


83 


1022 


63 


1.57 


1828 


60.147 


603 


556 


+47 


1159 


74 


1233 


51 


1.92 


1829 


60.769 


600 


556 


+44 


1156 


65 


1221 


52 


1.90 


1830 


61.392 


532 


493 


+39 


1025 


100 


1125 


59 


1.66 


Mean. 




594.7 


552 3 


+424 


1147.0 


90.9 


1237.9 


49 


2.05 


1831 


64.834 


676 


677 


—1 


1353 


71 


1424 


47 


2.08 


1832 


68.276 


840 


835 


+5 


1675 


86 


1761 


40 


245 


1833 


71.780 


679 


695 


—16 


1374 


102 


1476 


52 


1.91 


1834 


75.160 


765 


675 


—10 


1440 


114 


1554 


52 


1.91 


1835 


78.603 


991 


828 


+163 


1819 


95 


1914 


43 


2.31 


1836 


79.464 


831 


817 


+14 


1648 


122 


1770 


48 


2.07 


1837 


80.325 


875 


868 


+7 


1743 


100 


1843 


46 


2.16 


j 1838 


81.186 


937 


862 


+75 


1799 


121 


1920 


45 


2.21 


1839 


82215 


863 


859 


+241 


1722 


141 


1863 


44 


2.23 


Mean. 




745.7 


711.6 


+241 


1457.3 


95.2 


1552.5 


45 


2.14 



2* 



12 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



The preceding table, (Table V,) being the first compiled from the printed 
bills of mortality, presents a general view of the number of deaths each 
year, from 1811 to 1839, distinguishing the males from the females. The 
still-born, having never lived, are excluded from the number of deatbs in all 
correct bills of mortality, and are here placed in a separate column. The 
population at the different enumerations, and the estimated population 
for the intervening years, and the ratio which the deaths bear to the popula- 
tion, are given. The least mortality in one year was in 1827, being 939, 
one in 63, or 1.57 per cent., and the greatest in 1821, being 1,321, one in 
35, or 2.85 per cent. The average annual deaths were 813, from 1811 to 
1830— one in 47, or 2.09 per cent., 1147 from 1821 to 1830 — one in 49, or 
2.05 per cent., and 1,552 from 1831 to 1839 — one in 46, or 2.14 per cent., 
showing a small increase in the force of mortality. 

Mortality of different Ages. — The number of deaths varies very much in 
the different ages, being in some much greater than in others. We have 
presented in table VI the number who have died under 1, between 1 and 2, 
2 and 5, 5 and 10, and at each subsequent decennial period of life. This has 
been done for the different sexes, and in the different periods of time — the 10 
years, 1811 to 1820, and 1821 to 1830, and the 9 years, 1831 to 1839, that 
we might institute a comparison between the different periods, to ascertain 
whether the proportion of deaths was the same in each, and also for the whole 
29 years. The greatest number of deaths in any one period mentioned, is 
under one year, in the period 1831 to 1839, being 2861. The next greatest 
is between 20 and 30 of the same period, being 1843. The least number is 
between 90 and 100. 



Table VI, showing the influences on the number of deaths in different ages, distinguishing 
the males from the females, in three different periods of time. 



Age. 


1811—1820. 


18-21— 1830. 


1*31-1839. 


1811— ltf39. 


Males 


Females 


Total. 


ales 


Females 


Total 


Males 


Fem'ls 


Total. 


Males 


Fem'ls Total. 


Under 1 


705 


610 


1375 


1129 


833 


1962 


1596 


1205 


2861 


3490 


2708 


6198 


1 to 2 


435 


397 


832 


580 


640 


1220 


848 


933 


1781 


1803 


1970 


3833 


2 to 5 


267 


224 


491 


428 


305 


793 


849 


749 


1598 


1544 


1338 


2882 


5 to 10 


151 


133 


284 


233 


173 


406 


344 


275 


619 


728 


581 


1309 


10 to 20 


194 


236 


430 


234 


299 


533 


272 


463 


735 


700 


998 


1698 


20 to 30 


548 


585 


1133 


671 


733 


1404 


871 


972 


1843 


2090 


22!I0 


4380 


30 to 40 


509 


471 


980 


750 


642 


1392 


913 


738 


1651 


2172 


1851 


40-23 


40 to 50 


497 


374 


871 


623 


466 


1089 


651 


505 


1156 


1771 


1345 


3116 


50 to 00 


300 


260 


560 


389 


331 


720 


456 


365 


821 


1145 


956 


2101 


60 to 70 


201 


255 


456 


233 


287 


520 


303 


343 


646 


737 


885 


1622 


70 to 80 


160 


226 


386 


181 


248 


429 


198 


298 


496 


539 


772 


1311 


80 to 90 


74 


119 


1H3 


89 


137 


226 


85 


140 


225 


248 


396 


644 


90 to 100 


5 


24 


29 


11 


26 


37 


15 


36 


51 


31 


86 


117 


Sum 


4106 


3914 


8020 


5551 


5180 


10731 


7401 


7082 


14483 


17058 


16176 


33234 


Unknown 


50 


62 


112 


396 


343 


737 


56 


34 


90 


502 


439 


941 


Total 


4156 


3976 


8132 


5947 


5523 


11470 


7457 


7116 


14573 


17560 


16615 


34175 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



13 









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14 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

In tabic VII we have given the aggregate number of deaths, and calcu- 
lated the proportion per cent, of the deaths at each specified interval of age. 
It appears that 2698, or 33. G4 per cent., of the whole deaths in 1811 to 1820 
were under 5 years of age, and that 14.13 per cent., the next greatest pro- 
portion, was between the ages of 20 and 30. In the next column of this 
table we have presented the number who survive each specified age, and 
in the fourth column the proportion per cent, of the surviving. It appears 
from this table that 5322, or 66.30 per cent., of the deaths in 1811 to 1820 
survived the age of 5 years; 1624, or 20.25 per cent., survived the age of 
50 years; and 222, or 2.77 per cent., survived the age of 80 years. In the 
fifth column we have presented the law of mortality calculated from the 
deaths alone, and given the proportion per cent, of the number of those who 
were alive at the beginning of each specified age, and who died before the 
next specified age. Of the whole deaths, 33.64 per cent, were under 5 
years; of those who survived 5 years, 5.33 per cent, died before they at- 
tained 10 years; of those who survived 10 years, 8.53 per cent, died before 
they attained 20 years; and so on for each successive period, as appears in 
the table. We have presented these four different kinds of facts concerning 
the other periods, 1821 to 1830, and 1831 to 1839. A comparison of these 
facts presents some very important considerations. 

It has been repeatedly said that the great improvements in the science of 
medicine — in the nature and treatment of disease, and other causes, have 
increased the average longevity of mankind; that life is more valuable now 
than it formerly was; and that these improvements are constantly going on. 
The value of life is estimated by the number of years we live. A long life 
is more valuable than a short one. It is said to be improved in value, when 
the various circumstances, which surround us, add to the number of years 
of existence, as compared with other causes, which have existed in other 
places or periods of time. No correct conclusion can be made in regard to 
such comparison, except by a careful examination of the facts. A sufficient 
number of these is not, however, as yet attainable in this country to enable 
us to investigate the subject so fully and satisfactorily as could be desired. 
We can present some important ones in relation to Boston. 

By table I we are enabled to compare the ratio of mortality in Boston to 
the population, during a portion of the last century, with that prevailing at 
the present time, after an interval of nearly 100 years. There was then 1 
death to about 30 or 35, or 3 per cent., of the population. Now according 
to table IV there is 1 in about 45, or 2.10 per cent., of the population. This 
shows a very great improvement in the relative value of life. A comparison 
of other facts in the two tables will also present some very striking consi- 
siderations. In consequence of the ages of the deaths not being then given, 
we are unable to estimate the comparative value of life at the different ages. 

To estimate accurately the value of life in any place, two important ele- 
ments are necessary to be known: first, the number of the living at each age, 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



15 



and, secondly, the number of deaths at the same age. That we might make 
a calculation approximating to the truth in regard to Boston, we have taken 
the population of 1830, according to table II, and have distributed the 1875 
blacks among the whites of the different ages according to their respective 
proportions. From the bills of mortality we have ascertained the number 
of deaths for the 10 years, 1826 to 1835, five years before and five years 
after the census was taken, and have distributed the whole, including 126 
deaths whose ages were unknown, in the same manner in regard to age as 
the living. One-tenth of these is the annual average, and consequently the 
number of deaths for 1830. By dividing one by the other, the annual pro- 
portion of the deaths to the living at each age will appear, as in the following 
statement. We have added the results of a similar calculation made by Mr. 
Milne, in his valuable treatise on life insurance, respecting the value of life 
in Carlisle, in England, which is there considered a favourable specimen of 
healthy life. 

Statement showing the population of Boston for 1830, the deaths for 10 
years, 1826 to 1835, and the proportion of the annual deaths to 100 con- 
stantly living in Boston and Carlisle. 







| 


Centesimal 


)rnpnrtion o 


f deaths to 


Age. 


Population 
in 1830. 


Deaths 1 




the living. 




1826-1835. 


In Boston. 


In Carlisle. 


Difference. 


Under 5 


7822 


5176 


6.48 


8.22 


—1.74 


5 to 10 


5919 


515 


.85 


1.02 


—.17 


10 to 20 


12025 


659 


.54 


.58 


—.04 


20 to 30 


15687 


1719 


1.07 


.75 


+.32 


30 to 40 


8793 


1656 


1.84 


1.05 


+.79 


40 to 50 


4866 


1130 


2.27 


1.43 


+ .84 


50 to 60 


2490 


775 


3.05 


1.82 


+ 1.23 


60 to 70 


1276 


607 


4.63 


4.12 


+.51 


70 to 80 


489 


465 


9.12 


8.29 


+.S3 


80 to 90 


136 


235 


16.94 


17.56 


—.52 


90 to 100 


14 


44 


30.76 


28.44 


+2.32 


59517 


12981 


Mean2.13 


2.50 


Total 


Blk'sl875 


Unk'n 126 








61392 


13107 



By this statement it appears that the proportion of deaths to the living is 
greater in Carlisle than in Boston under the age of 20, and between the ages 
of 80 and 90. At the other ages it is greater in Boston. Between the ages 
of 50 and 60, and 90 and 100, there is the greatest difference, being in the 
former 1.23, and in the latter 2.32. The mean of all ages is 2.13 per cent, 
in Boston and 2.50 per cent, in Carlisle, showing a difference of .37 in 
favour of the former. This presents the law of mortality in Boston, as 
accurately as it could be done from any data at present existing. It is, however, 
difficult, if not impossible, to determine it with perfect precision by any 
general statement concerning a population so changeable as that of our city. 

We have arranged the tables including the deaths from 1811 to 1839 in 
such form, that we can institute a comparison between the relative mortality 



16 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



of the different periods, 1811 to 1820, 1821 to 1830, and 1831 to 1839. 
This comparison presents some very striking facts, and shows that, although 
the average value of life is greater now than daring the last century, it is 
not so great as it was twenty years ago; that it was at its maximum in 1811 
to 1820, and that it has since somewhat decreased. It appears that 33.64 
per cent, of the deaths in 1811 to 1820 were under 5 years of age, 37.04 
per cent, in 1821 to 1830, and that 43.09 per cent, in 1831 to 1839, show- 
ing a gradual increase of the relative mortality under that age, and between 
the first and the last given period, a difference of 9.45 per cent, or a propor- 
tional increase of mortality of 28 per cent.! 

It is a melancholy fact, and one which should arrest the attention of all, 
that 43 per cent, or nearly half of all the deaths which have taken place in 
Boston during the last nine years, are of persons under 5 years of age; and the 
proportional mortality of this age has been increasing. A comparison may 
be made between other ages by table VII in two ways, one by taking the 
difference between the proportions per cent, of the dying each age in the 
different periods, or by subtracting the second columns of each period from 
each other; and the other by taking the difference between the proportion 
per cent, of those who survive the first mentioned age, and die before they 
attain the next age, or by subtracting the fifth columns of each period from 
each other. The first method is not so correct as the second; for, if a greater 
proportion die under 5 years of age, there must of course be a less propor- 
tion die at each of the other ages, even if the number proportional to the 
living at that age be the same. It is not so in regard to the other method. 
The mortality of one age is not dependent on any other, and the table 
shows the proportion of the whole number of deaths, who attain the age of 
5, 10, 20, or any other given period, who die before they attain the next 
given period. This calculation shows the law of mortality for a place as 
accurately as can be shown from any calculation from records of deaths 
alone. We have given below the difference between the proportion per 
cent, of the deaths at each period. The sign plus shows that the mortality 
is greater, and minus that it was less in the last period than the first. 





Difference 


Difference 


Diffe 


rence 




between 1811 to 1820 


between 1821 to 1830 


between 1811 to 1820 




and 182 


1 to 1830. 


and 1831 


to 1839. 


and 1831 to 1839. 


AGE 


2d column. 


5th column. 


2d column. 


5th column. 


2d column. 


5th column, 


Under 5 


+ 3.40 


+ 3.40 


+ 6.05 


+ 60.5 


+ 9.45 


+ 9.45 


5 to 20 


-f .25 


+ .67 


+ .48 


+ 1.50 


+ .73 


+ 2.17 


10 to 20 


—.39 


—.14 


+ .11 


+ 1.25 


—.28 


+ 1.11 


20 to 30 


— 1.05 


—.45 


—.35 


+ 2.62 


—1.40 


+ 2.17 


30 to 40 


+ .75 


+ 5.65 


—1.57 


— 1.12 


—.82 


+ 4.53 


40 to 50 


—.71 


+ 1.14 


—2.17 


—1.99 


—2.88 


—.85 


50 to 60 


—.28 


+ 2.83 


—1.04 


—.65 


— 1.32 


+2.18 


60 to 70 


—.84 


+ .05 


—.38 


+2.65 


—1.22 


+ 2.70 


70 to 80 


—.81 


—1.49 


—.58 


+2.25 


—1.39 


+ .76 


80 to 90 


—.24 


—1.05 


—.62 


—4.71 


—.86 


—5.76 


90 to 100 


—.02 




+ .01 




—.01 





Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 17 

It appears from this table that the value of life has slightly improved 
between the ages 30 and 60 and over 80, the chances being somewhat greater 
than they were twenty years ago, that a person of these ages will live to the 
next higher age. Under 30 the mortality has increased; the greatest how- 
ever is under 5. The mortality for 1 838 was greater than in any any other 
year, being 47.65 wanting but 2.35 per cent, of half the whole deaths, show- 
ing in that year a greater mortality under 5, than the average eight previous 
years, of 4.68 per cent., and that of the first ten years of 14.51 per cent. 

The causes of this increasing and alarming mortality should be investi- 
gated, and, if possible, removed. We have endeavoured to ascertain some 
of these causes. Allowance should, we suppose, be made for the customs 
of the times. More luxury and effeminacy in both sexes prevail now than 
formerly; and this may have had some influence in producing constitutional 
debility, and the consequent feeble health of children. The nursing and 
feeding of children with improper food is another cause. The influence of 
bad air in confined, badly located, and filthy houses, is another and perhaps 
the greatest. Epidemic diseases which are particularly prevalent among 
children have increased. It will hereafter be shown that scarlet fever has 
prevailed very much the last nine years, and has increased the mortality. 
In the period 1811 to 1820, this disease produced 13 per 1000 of the 
whole deaths. In 1831 to 1838, it produced 489. Other infantile diseases 
have also increased. These considerations would, perhaps, sufficiently ac- 
count for the increased mortality under 5 years of age. 

We had supposed that a greater mortality prevailed in certain localities, 
and in certain classes of our population than in others, and we have en- 
deavoured to ascertain how far the supposition is founded on fact. Though 
the records do not specify, as they ought, the place of residence of those 
whose deaths are recorded, they do give, in all cases, the places of burial. 
We have compiled the following statement from a list of all those, who 
were buried from Boston in the South Boston and Charleston Roman Catho- 
lic burial grounds. 

Of the 1987 Catholic burials during the six years, 1833 to 1838, com- 
prising 1028 males and 958 females, 61.39 per cent, were under 5 years. 
The still-born during the same time, and in the same religious denomination, 
not included in the above, were 125, or 5.77 per cent, of the whole burials; 
112, or about 5g per cent, only, lived to see 50 years of age, and 30, or less 
than 2 per cent, lived to 70. During the year 1838 there were 439 burials, 
of whom 303, or 171 males and 132 females, were under 5; and 136, or 57 
males and 79 females, were over 5. This is a mortality of 75 per cent, of 
the whole male deaths, and 60 per cent, of the whole female deaths under 5; 
leaving 25 per cent, only of the males and 40 per cent, of the females, or 31 
per cent, of both sexes, to survive that early age. This shows a great increase 
in mortality, and will account for the increase of the deaths under 5 years of 
age. The influx of unacch mated foreign emigrants, and the great number of 



18 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

families crowded into the houses in Broad street, Ann street, and other 
densely populated parts of the city, render the air very impure, and expose 
the lives of infants, who are compelled to breathe it, to almost inevitable 
death. The influences of such circumstances are not confined to the places 
where they exist, but are extended to the population in the neighbourhood, 
and epidemics are generated, which are no doubt injurious to the general 
health of the city. 

Mortality of different Sexes. — The difference in the mortality of the two 
sexes is given in tables V and VI, from which it appears that there were 180 
more female than male deaths in 1811 to 1820; 424 in 1821 to 1830, and 
341 in 1831 to 1839. There were four years in the first period, and three 
in the last only, when there were more male than female deaths. The pro- 
portion of the different sexes will appear from the following statement. 



1811 to 1820 



Deaths. Average. Proportion 

Males 4156 
Females 3976 



Total, 8132 

1R91 in lftin$ Males 5947 
1821 t0l83 °? Females 5523 



415 


51.11 


as 


100 or 104.59 


397 


48.89 


to 


95.66 100. 


813 


100.00 




594 


51.85 


as 


100 or 107.67 


553 


48.15 


to 


92.87 100 


1147 


100.00 




828 


51.17 


as 


100 or 104.79 


790 


48.83 


to 


95.42 100 



Total, 11470 

Total, 14573 1618 100.00 

The proportion of male and female deaths to the population in the years 
when the census was taken, was as follows: 

One in Excess. Proportion per cent. Excess. 



1820 


Males 41 ] 


?emalt 


;s 44 


3 


Males 2.41 


Females 2.27 


14 


1825 


« 41 


<< 


43 


2 


" 2.32 


2.27 


5 


1830 


" 54 


(,c 


65 


11 


1.83 


1.52 


31 


1835 


" 39 


(< 


48 


9 


2.54 


2.07 


47 



This statement shows that the agents of death are uniformly more active 
with male than female life. 

In the following table we have given the number of deaths of each sex 
for the different intervals of age, as in table V, and the proportion of each 
sex for the period 1811 to 1838. 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



19 



Age 




Observed. 


Calculated. 














Males. 


Females. 


Males. 


Females. 


Under 


1 


3315 


2572 


56.31 


43.69 


1 to 


2 


1756 


1861 


48.54 


51.46 


2 to 


5 


1436 


1232 


53.65 


46.35 


5 to 


10 


675 


537 


55.69 


4431 


10 to 


20 


669 


942 


41.34 


58.66 


20 to 


30 


2009 


2159 


48.20 


51.80 


30 to 


40 


2071 


1775 


53.84 


46.16 


40 to 


50 


1693 


1278 


56.99 


43.01 


50 to 


60 


1099 


915 


54.56 


45.44 


60 to 


70 


700 


849 


45.19 


54.81 


70 to 


80 


521 


741 


41.28 


58.72 


80 to 


90 


241 


376 


39.06 


60.94 


90 to 100 


31 


83 


27.18 


72.82 



It appears from this statement, that at the ages under 10 years, and 
between 30 and 60, more males than females die, the proportion rising in 
40 to 50, as 56.99 to 43.01 per cent. At the other periods specified there 
are less male than female deaths; the difference after the age of 60 continu- 
ally increasing, until 90 to 100, when it was as 27.18 to 72.82 per cent. By 
table II it appears that there were a greater number of males than females at 
any age among the living population. A comparison of these with the deaths 
will show that at certain ages a greater proportional mortality prevails among 
males, and at other ages among females. 

Mortality of the Different Seasons of the Year. — In table VIII we have 
arranged the deaths in each period according to the months in which they 
occurred, distinguishing the males from the females, and placing before the 
numbers the sign minus, when it was less, and the sign plus, when it was 
greater than the mean. In the third column we have given the proportion, 
which the total of each month bears to 12000, or 1000 per month, and in 
the fourth column, the number, indicating the order of the month in regard 
to mortality — the highest being numbered 1. It appears from this statement, 
that the months of August, September, and October, have the highest mor- 
tality. December is number 4 in each period; November 5 in the last, and 
6 in the others. June has uniformly the least mortality. If the proportions 
are arranged according to the seasons of the year, they will be as follows: 





1811-1820. 


1821-1830. 


1831-1839 


Winter, 


2.801 


2.775 


3.000 


Spring, 


2.842 


2.825 


2.622 


Summer, 


2.807 


2.996 


2.800 


Autumn, 


3.550 


4.434 


4.578 



12,000 



12,000 



12,000 



20 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



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Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



21 



In table IX, we have endeavoured to arrange the facts for one period, 
1821-1830, to ascertain what influence the seasons have upon the mortality 
of different ages. We have given the whole deaths during the time, the 
mean or average of each month at each age, and the difference from this 
mean, placing the sign minus, when the mortality of the month at any age 
was less, and plus when it was greater, than this mean. 

Table IX, showing the influence of the different months of the year on the number of 
deaths, in the different ages, for the years 1821—1830, inclusive. 













January. February. 


March. April. 


May. 




Average or 




















Age. 


Whole 


monthly 


■s 


DifT'ce J= 


DifTce 


a 


DifTce 


5 


DifTce 


f! 


DifTce 




deaths. 


mean. 


5 


from i g 


from 


rt 


from 


a 


from 


n) 


from 








Q 


mean. > q 


mean. 


Q 


mean. 


O 


mean. 


Q 


m ean. 


Under 1 


1962 


163.50 


151 


—12.60 121 


—42.501 140 


—23.50 


140 


—23.50 


123 


—40.50 


1 to 2 


1220 


101.67 


68 


-33.67 46 


— 55.67 65 


—36.67 


80 


—21.67 


73 


—28.67 


2 to 5 


793 


66 08 


64 


—2.08 47 


—19.08 65 


—1.08 


62 


—4.08 


69 


+2.92 


5 to 10 


406 


33 83 


33 


—.83 21 


—1283! 23 


—10.83 


41 


—7.17 


29 


—4.83 


10 to 20 


533 


44.42 


46 


+1.58 40 


—4.42 


40 


—4.42 


31 


—13.42 


52 


+7.58 


20 to 30 


1404 


117.— 


114 


— 3.— 


106 


—11 — 


114 


— 3— 


123 


+6— 


122 


4-5. 


30 to 40 


1392 


116. — 


112 


— 4— 


98 


—18.— 


126 


+10- 


123 


+7- 


123 


+7- 


40 to 50 


1089 


90.75 


88 


—2.75 


88 


—2.75 


93 


+2 25 


89 


— 1.75 


105 


—14.25 


50 to 60 


720 


60— 


76 


+16— 


51 


—9— 


58 


—2— 


54 


— 6— 


65 


+5— 


60 to 70 


520 


43.34 


42 


—1.34 


49 


+5.66 


51 


+7.66 


53 


+9.66 


35 


—8.34 


70 to 80 


429 


35 75 


36 


+.25 


50 


+14.25 


38 


—2.25 


33 


—2.75 


35 


—.75 


80 to 90 


22G 


18.83 


31 


+10.17 


23 


^+4.17 


18 


-.83 


22 


+3.17 


13 


—5.83 


90 tolOO 
Total 


37 


3.08 


8 


+4.92 


3 


-.08 


3 


—.08 


1 


—2.08 


3 

847 


—.08 


10731 


894.25 


869 


—25.25 


743 


—151.25 834 


—60.25 


852 


—42.25 


—47.25 




June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


No 
145 


/ember. 
—18.50 


December. 


Under 1 


115 


—48.5 


158 


—5 50 


241 


+77.50 
+68.33 


293 


+130.50 
+122.33 


192 




■38.50 


144 


—19.50 


1 to 2 


64 


—37.65 


102 


+.33 


170 


224 


157 


- 


-55.33 


101 


—.67 


70 


—31.67 


2 to 5 


71 


+4.92 
+8.17 


47 


—19 08 


72 


+5.92 


78 


+11.92 


77 




-10 92 


70 


+3.92 


72 


+5 92 
+3.17 


5 to 10 


42 


25 


—8.83 


46 


+12.17 


39 


+5.17 


36 


+2.17 
+2.58 


34 


+.17 


37 


10 to 20 


40 


—4.42 


49 


+1f 


42 


o 40 


55 


+10.58 


47 


46 


+158 


15 


+ 58 


20 to 30 


75 


—42— 


122 


129 


+12— 


125 




-8— 


149 


+32— 


100 


—17— 


125 


+8. 


30 to 40 


11)1 


—15— 


139 


+23— 
+10.25 


100 


—16— 


125 




~9— 


124 


+8. 


124 


+8- 
+3.25 


97 


—19— 


40 to 50 


60 


—30.75 


llll 


89 


—1.75 


95 




-4.25 


103 


+12.25 


94 


83 


—7.75 


50 to 60 


(ill 


— — 


.)- 


o 


55 


—5. 


53 


—7. 


54 


— 6 — 


56 


—4— 


80 


+20. 


60 to 70 


32 


— 11.34 


38 


—5.34 


48 


+4.66 


41 


—2.34 


51 


+7.66 


38 


—5.34 


42 


-1.34 


70 to 80 


29 


—6 75 


29 


—6.75 


33 


—2.75 


26 


—9.75 


28 


—7.75 


50 


+14.2.5 


42 


+6.25 


80 to SO 


13 


—5 83 


in 


—8 83 


23 


+4,17 


13 


—5.83 


18 


—.83 


20 


+1.17 


22 


+3.17 


90 tolOO 





—3.08 


5 


+1.92 




1048 


—3.08 
+153.75 



1167 


—3.08 


4 


+.92 


3 


— 03 


7 


4-3.92 


Total 


702 


—192.08 


883 


— 11.25 


+272.75 1040 

i 


+145.75 


881 


—13.25 


866 


—28.25 



From this table the following abstract in relation to the seasons has been 
compiled. 

Under 20 years. 20 to 60. GO and upwards. 

Spring, — 205.50 + 43.75 + 3. 

Summer, +- 56.50 — 62.75 — 49 

Autumn, + 366.50 -f 70.75 + 10 

Winter, — 222.50 — 35.75 + 52 

From this statement it appears that the seasons have the greatest influence 
on the mortality of persons under the age of 20 and over that of 60 — the 
summer and autumn being most fatal with the former, and winter with the 
latter. This is the only general law we can deduce from the tables. If we 
examine and compare particular months and ages a striking difference will 
appear in the mortality, but not enough to deduce any general law from it. 

The Stillborn. — The number and proportion of the stillborn burials 
will appear from the following statement : 



22 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

1811-1820 1821-1830 1831-1839 

Number. Proportion. Number. Proportion. Number. Proportion. 

Deaths, 8,132 = 95.52 11,470 = 92.66 14,573 = 93.87 

Stillborn, 471= 5.48 909= 7.34 952= 6.13 



Total burials, 8,603 100.00 12,379 100.00 15,525 100.00 

The proportion of the stillborn to the whole burials was 1.82 percent, 
in the second, and .65 per cent, in the third period, more than in the first. By- 
table VIII it appears that the month producing the highest proportion was 
August, and that March was the next highest. There appears, however, 
to be less variation, in regard to the seasons, in these than in the other deaths. 

Diseases. — In compiling an abstract of the diseases, or causes of death, we 
have confined ourselves to the printed lulls of mortality, as we have done in 
preparing the other tables, and have not gone back to the original records. 
If this had been done, nothing of great importance, in addition, would have 
been obtained, unless an entire new set of tables had been formed, which 
should distinguish each case with respect to age and sex. The records in 
this respect are not full, and probably they are not always correct in regard 
to the cause of death inserted. The bills, however, contain the amount of 
all the deaths in the city, and it is presumed that they also contain a faithful 
abstract of the records concerning the diseases. There has been considerable 
difficulty, and great care and labour has been expended, in arranging the 
diseases from the different annual bills themselves. The nomenclature has 
been several times altered, and a disease is often returned one year under a 
name differing from that of the same disease contained in the return of 
another year, and even in the same year, one and the same disease often ap- 
pears under two synonymous names, sometimes under the popular, and 
sometimes under the scientific name, or under both popular names. 

Another feature of the bills is the indefinite idea conveyed by the names 
often given to the diseases. It appears from table XI, that of the whole 
deaths 111.6, 167.1, and 85.8 per 1000, in the respective period, were re- 
turned as occurring from unknown causes, and that 267.6, 160.5, and 158.4, 
per 1000, from diseases whose seat or character was undetermined. These 
two classes amount on the average to about one-third of the whole deaths. 
There are also many cases returned under the name of "Rupture," "De- 
bility," " Tumour," " Infantile Diseases," " Complication of Disorders," 
&c; and another class under the general name of " Complaint," " Disease 
of the Heart," or "Disease of the Lungs," &c, without specifying the par- 
ticular kind or type of the disease. This is a great defect in our records 
and tables; and it should arrest the attention of the medical profession, whose 
reputation with that of the city, is in some respects involved in it. These 
imperfections in bills of mortality, however, are not peculiar to Boston. 
The same defect, to a greater or less extent, has existed in those published 
in other places in this country, and until recently in Great Britain. It is 
to be attributed to the imperfections of our system of registration, to the 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 23 

ignorance, carelessness, or entire neglect, of those whose duty it is to make 
the returns, and to the want of proper foims and classification of our printed 
tables. 

In 1836 a nomenclature, revised and considerably improved, was printed 
by the city; but it is believed that some further modification is necessary to 
make it as perfect as it should be. Some names might be omitted, and 
others substituted, and the whole arranged in two forms, one in alphabetical 
and numerical order, the other classed in groups according to the seat of, or 
parts affected by, the disease. In this way the nomenclature might be ren- 
dered more simple and exact; and when made, a form of a return should be 
prepared and every person concerned should not be requested merely, but 
required to conform to it in all respects to the extent of bis power; and no 
burial should be permitted until the return is first obtained. In 1836 a cir- 
cular was addressed by the city authorities to the members of the medical 
profession, and to the funeral undertakers, requesting them to conform to the 
new nomenclature, but from the fault of one party or the other, the returns 
relative to the cause of death are still defective. 

From these remarks some of the difficulties, which have presented them- 
selves in preparing the following tables, wdl be perceived. The tables will, 
however, imperfect as they are, convey much important information, and 
suggest how much more valuable tables of this kind would have been, if the 
original returns, from which they were compiled, had been made full and 
uniformly correct; and the annual printed abstracts themselves prepared in a 
different form, and on the principles of accurate classification. 

It has been considered sufficient by many writers on this subject to pre- 
pare the tables, so as to exhibit the number of the deaths by each disease for 
certain definite periods of time given. But this information appears to fall 
short of the result which ought to be presented in such tables. To render them 
useful, a comparison should be made between the number of deaths by each 
disease, and the whole number of deaths in a certain given period, and this 
result should be again compared with a similar result concerning other pe- 
riods. In this way the prevalence of any particular disease compared with 
that of other diseases at the same period, and with same diseases at different 
periods, may be at once seen, and a judgment formed from the per centage 
what proportion of deaths that particular disease occasions, and whether it 
be on the increase or decrease. The sex, age, and place of nativity of the 
diseased, and the season of the year in which the deaths occurred, are not 
stated in connection with the diseases in our printed tables, but they should 
be. The fatality of disease depends much on the age of the patients, and it 
is not the same in childhood, manhood, and old age, nor with the different 
sexes, and in the different months of the year. It is very important to 
know all such facts in relation to each disease, and the danger that man has 
to encounter in all ages, and under all circumstances. It would also be im- 
portant, if practicable, to know the number of deaths by each disease in 

3* 



24 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

proportion to the population, distinguishing them according to their ages. 
When facts like these are known they will lead to inquiries into the causes, 
which have produced an increase or diminution of disease, under different 
circumstances, and lead to the adoption of the proper remedies. 

The following tables have been arranged on the basis of the nomenclature 
contained in the valuable Report of the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, 
and Marriages in England, with such alterations as seemed necessary to 
render them more simple, and better adapted to our circumstances. Causes 
of death of a similar character, though entered under different names in dif- 
ferent years, have been classed together, so as to show, as far as practicable, 
the prevalence of the same disease during the whole period. Table X con- 
tains the number of deaths by each disease in every year from 1811 to 1839 
inclusive. They are divided into three periods, the first from 1811 to 1820, 
the second from 1820 to 1830, and the third from 1830 to 1839 inclusive, 
and the amount of each given in a separate column. By comparing these 
numbers together the relative mortality produced by each different disease, 
and whether it increases or diminishes, may be seen. It is necessary, how- 
ever, to bear in mind that a greater number does not always indicate an in- 
crease of mortality. The increase of the population, and consequent relative 
increased number of deaths, must always be taken into view. The deaths, 
exclusive of the stillborn, from October 1810 to 1820, were 8,469, and from 
1821 to 1830 they were 11,470, being an increase of 3001, or nearly 3.54 
per cent, annually. During the nine last years, from 1831 to 1839, the 
deaths were 14,573, being an increase of 3,103, or 3. per cent, annually. 
This shows a little increase in the force of mortality as compared with the 
increase of population, as has already been shown. Table XI shows the 
comparison in regard to the several classes of diseases. 

First Division. — Endemic, Epidemic, and Contagious Diseases. — 
This class of diseases is the great index to the state of health of a people, 
and determines more than any other its character in different locations, and 
in different periods. We have subdivided this class into fevers, eruptive 
fevers, and others not classified. (See table X.) 

Fevers.— A variety of opinions prevails in regard to the nomenclature and 
arrangement of the different kinds of fevers. We have adopted, as far as 
circumstances will permit, the division contained in the American edition of 
Marshall Hall's Practical Medicine, though it does not agree with the Reports 
of the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths in England, nor with the Sup- 
plement to the Encyclopedia of Practical Medicine. There are many cases, 
found in the Boston tables, returned as " fever" only, without any specification 
of kind or type. A great variety of names is also given, some of which have 
been regarded as synonymous. Under Synochus are included all of a mixed 
character, or not clearly defined, which appear in the printed tables, such as 
"fever," "anomalous fever," "bilious," "catarrhal," "country," "iso- 
lated," "miliary," "acute synochus," &c. The term "typhoid" does not 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 25 

appear in the bills until 1837, and is therefore omitted. Under Typhus are 
included such as "brain," "congestive," "continued," "inflammatory," 
"jail," "malignant," "nervous," "putrid," "typhoid," &c. We have 
arranged cases, which appeared in the printed tables as "lung fever," and 
"pleurisy fever," under Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs; " worm 
fever," under Worms; " rheumatic fever," under Rheumatism; " scarlet 
fever," under Scarlatina; "puerperal" and "child-bed fever," under Dis- 
eases of Child-bed. The deaths by fevers of all kinds were 749, 604, and 
721, or 88.4, 52.7, and 49.5 per 1000 of the whole deaths in the respective 
periods, showing a decrease of 35.7 in the second, and 3.2 in the third. By 
looking at the different fevers in the tables it will be perceived, that typhus 
has produced the greatest number of deaths, but still it has very much de- 
creased; being 623, 458, and 611, or 73.5, 39.9 and 41.9 per 1000, showing 
the last eight years a small increase on the previous 10, but not more than 
half the proportion of the period 1811 to 1820. The greatest number in 
one year was 119, in 1818. Ten cases of yellow fever occurred in 1816. 

2. Eruptive Fevers.— -The diseases of this class occur very irregularly. 
They have, however, increased. There occurred 64, 402, and 1402, or 7.5, 
35.1, and 96.2 per 1000 in the respective periods, the last period showing 
more than 13 times the mortality of the first. Each of the diseases except- 
ing thrush, shows an increased mortality. Erysipelas has increased from 
1, in the first, to 65 in the last period. Measles was very fatal in 1821, 
1825, 1829, 1832, and particularly in 1835, when 188 died of this disease: 
28, 332, and 340, or 3.3, 28.9, and 23.1 per 1000 of the whole deaths oc- 
curred from this disease in the respective periods. Under Scarlatina are 
included the cases in the bills entered as " scarlet fever," " putrid sore 
throat," " cynanche maligna," " ulcerated sore throat," " throat distemper," 
" canker rash," &c, being considered nearly synonymous. Cases of this 
kind have increased since 1821 to 1830, from 13 to 489! It has become one 
of the most fatal of the eruptive fevers. The suddenness of its attack, the 
irregular mode of its operation, and its generally fatal termination, has ren- 
dered it one of the diseases most to be dreaded. The greatest number in 
one year was in 1839, when 222 died. The next greatest was 200 in 1832. 
To the prevalence of this disease may be attributed, in some measure, the 
increased mortality of children under five years of age. The recorded cases 
of Smallpox have been principally at the quarantine establishment at Rains- 
ford Island. It never prevailed in the city, as an epidemic, during the period 
under review, until the autumn of 1839. It then spread generally through 
the city, and produced 60 deaths before the close of the year. 

3. Not classified. We have adopted this term to designate such endemic, 
epidemic, or contagious diseases as are not included in either of the forego- 
ing classes. Under Cholera are included cholera morbus, and also 78, 
89, and 251 cases in the respective periods which are entered as " cholera 
infantum," and also 78 cases of Asiatic or spasmodic cholera, which occur- 
red in 1832. Croup includes the cases of " hives," and " cynanche tra- 



14.4 


149 


12.9 


407 


27.9 


5. 


245 


21.3 


378 


25.9 


13.5 


429 


37.4 


372 


25.5 


9.2 


184 


1(5.0 


256 


17.5 



26 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

chealis." This disease resembles quinsy, subsequently classified under the 
diseases of the organs of respiration; and the cases may not all be correctly 
entered in their respective subdivisions. It was thought best, however, to 
preserve a separate classification. Under Dysentery are included the cases 
of " diarrhoea," having so closea resemblance as to be here classed toge- 
ther. The number of deaths by each disease of this class, excepting Hydro- 
phobia and Syphilis, have increased, though dysentery has not produced so 
great a proportion in the nine last years, as it did in the previous ten. The 
following statement will show the compartive prevalence of each of the 
principal diseases: 

1811—1820. 1821—1830. 1831—1839. 

Diseases. Number. Eatio per 1000. Number. Ratio per 1000. Number. Ratio per 1000. 

Cholera, 122 

Croup, 43 

Dysentery, 115 

Hooping Cough, 78 

The total of this class of diseases was 380, 1031, and 1499, or 44.9, 89.9, 
and 102.9 per 1000 in the respective periods. 

Second Division. — Sporadic Diseases. 

1. Of the Nervous System and Senses. — Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, 
Byes, Bars. — Under Convulsions we include cases entered as " fits," 
" spasms," &c, which are no doubt sometimes erroneously considered as 
synonymous terms; under Hydrocephalus cases of " dropsy in the head," 
" effusion of the brain," " hydrocephalus internus," &c; under Phrenitis 
cases of" brain fever," " inflammation of the brain," &c. It appears from 
the tables that the whole of the diseases of this class have been 562, 980, and 
1515, or 66.4, 85.4, and 104. per 1000 in the different periods, showing a 
slight increase. The entries under each class, excepting epilepsy, insanity, 
and tetanus, also show an increase. Insanity has not appeared to increase, 
though some allowance should be made for the patients afflicted with this 
disease, who go to the Lunatic Asylums at Worcester and Charlestown, and 
sometimes die there. If these were considered in our reports they would 
probably show a different result, and a slight increase of the disease. The 
following statement shows the proportional prevalence of the three principal 
diseases of this class. 

1811—1820. 

Diseases. Number. Ratio per 1000. 

Apoplexy, 109 12.8 

Convulsions, 229 27. 
Hydrocephalus, 86 10.1 

2. Of the Organs of Respiration — Larynx, Windpipe, Air-tubes, Langs, 
and Pleura. We have included under Pleurisy " pleurisy fever," " pleu- 
ritis," and "inflammation of the pleura;" under Phthisis, " phthisis pulmo- 
nalis," and " consumption," also 29 cases in 1820 to 1830, and 18 in 1830 



1821—1830. 


1831—1839. 


Number. Ratio per 1000. 


Number. Ratio per 1000. 


107 9.3 


162 11.1 


309 26.9 


419 28.7 


270 23.6 


498 34.1 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 27 

to 1839, returned as "decline;" under Pneumonia, "lung fever," "pulmo- 
nic fever," and " inflammation of the lungs;" under Quinsy " cynanche." 
In the different periods under consideration, 2460, 2802, and 3214 deaths, 
or 290.5, 244.8, and 220.5 per 1000, were caused hy this class of diseases. 
This indicates a decrease of 70 per 1000 from the first to the last period. 
The following table will show the comparative prevalence of the principal 
diseases: 



1811- 


-1820. 


1821- 


-1830. 


1831- 


-1839. 


Number 


Ratio per 


Number 


Ratio per 


Number 


Ratio per 


cases. 


1000. 


cases. 


1000. 


cases. 


1000. 


35 


4.1 


40 


3.4 


83 


5.7 


1891 


223.3 


2054 


179. 


2066 


141.7 


436 


51.4 


580 


50.5 


937 


64.2 



Pleurisy, 
Phthisis, 
Pneumonia, 

The leading disease of this class, and indeed of all classes, is phthisis, or 
consumption. From these tables it appears to have decreased over one- 
third from the first to the last period. Entire reliance, however, should not 
be placed on this statement. There is so much indefiniteness in the applica- 
tion of the term, consumption, as well as many other terms in our bills, 
that it should be regarded only as an approximation to the truth. The more 
accurate diagnosis recently observed has probably given a different classifi- 
cation to many cases, from that assigned to them in the first period. Con- 
sumption is, however, a most formidable disease, not in Boston peculiarly, 
but in all cities and country towns. Sufficient facts are known to show, that 
from one-fourth to one-seventh of all the deaths in the Northern and Middle 
states, and perhaps throughout the whole Union, and the civilized world, are 
caused by consumption. This frightful mortality is to be arrested, if at all, 
by means of prevention, rather than the cure of the disease after it has once 
become seated. Were a competent individual to write a popular treatise 
explaining the various causes of the disease, and the proper precautionary 
measures to be taken to prevent its attacks, to be read and observed by the 
people, its mortality might be greatly reduced. 

3. Of the Organs of Circulation — Heart, Arteries, Veins, Lymphatics.— 
Under Disease are embraced 9 cases of " dropsy of the heart," in 1836, and 
several cases of " angina pectoris" in different years. These diseases have 
increased, being 22, 81, and 191, or 2.5, 7. and 13.1 per 1000. Of the 
whole of this class 24, 90, and 200, or 2.9, 7.9, and 13.7 per 1000 occurred 
in the different periods. It is supposed as the science of medicine progresses, 
and the diagnosis of disease becomes more perfect, that diseases of the heart 
will be found to be the cause of more deaths than at present supposed. 

4. Of the Digestive Organs. — Mouth, Oesophagus, Stomach, 8fC. — Dys- 
pepsia, as a cause of death, appears less frequently in the two last periods 
than the first. Under Gastritis are included 3 cases of " gastric fever" in 
1837; under Disease the cases of " aphthse," " canker," " bowel complaints," 
and "piles." Canker has sometimes been considered synonymous with 
scarlatina or quinsy, and some cases should probably have been classed 



28 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

among those diseases. The following statement will show the comparative 
prevalence of some of the principal diseases of this class: 





1811- 


-1820. 


1821—1830. 


1831- 


-1839. 




Number 


Ratio per 


Number Ratio per 


Number 


Ratio per 




cases. 


1000. 


cases. 1000. 


cases. 


1000. 


Enteritis, 


6 


.7 


162 14.1 


320 


21.9 


Teething, 


39 


4.6 


83 7.2 


247 


16.9 


Worms, 


21 


2.5 


26 2.2 


51 


3.5 



Most of the other diseases specified have decreased, excepting those of the 
liver, and the other organs mentioned under the general head, and included 
under Disease. These have greatly increased. The whole number of cases 
were 231, 644, and 1107, or 27.3, 56.1, and 76, in the different periods. 

5. Of the Urinary Organs. — Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, Urethra. — 
Under Stone are included all who died of stone or gravel. In the first period 
there died of this disease 1 in 1411 of all diseases, in the second 1 in 546, 
and in the third 1 in 2082. Of all the diseases of this class 9, 30, and 22, 
or 1.1, 2.6, and 1.5 per 1000 occurred in the respective periods. 

6. Of the Organs of Generation. — 'Under Childbed are included cases of 
"puerperal fever," 63, 121, and 175, or 7.4, 10.5, and 12. per 1000, in the 
respective periods, occurred by this disease; and 64, 132, and 192, or 7.6, 
11.5, and 13.2 per 1000 of the whole deaths of this class. 

7. Of the Organs of Locomotion. — Under Rheumatism cases of " rheu- 
matic fever" 20, 40, and 40, have been caused by this disease; and by the 
whole class 26, 61, and 68, or 3.1, 5.3, and 4.7 per 1000 of the whole deaths. 

8. Of the Integumentary System. — Skin, Cellular Tissue. — The deaths 
by this class were 3, 17, and 26, or .3, 1.5, and 1.8 per 1000 in the respective 
periods; Ulcers produced the most deaths of this class. "Scurvy" was the 
cause of 1 death in 1833, and 1 in 1835. 

9. Of Uncertain seat. — The registered deaths by " Infantile Diseases'' , 
have been 1587, 883, and 867, or 187.4, 77.9, and 59.4 per 1000 in the re- 
spective periods. The " Sudden" Deaths have been 153, 83, and 70, or 
18.0, 7.2, and 4.6 per 1000, showing apparently a large decrease in both of 
these causes of death. A better acquaintance with morbid anatomy, more 
accurate medical observation, and greater care in making the returns and re- 
cords, have given more definite character to the causes of death, and assigned 
more of them to their proper place. Many cases, which would have been 
entered in the first period under these names, have in the last been entered 
under the other and more specific diseases of infancy, or under apoplexy, dis- 
eases of the heart, and other causes of " sudden" death. This has appa- 
rently decreased the number of cases of infantile diseases and sudden deaths, 
and increased the number of cases of other diseases in the tables. These 
facts are to be considered in estimating the comparative mortality of the dif- 
ferent diseases. The registered deaths by Intemperance have increased, being 
65 f 257, and 310, or 7, 22.4 and 21.2 per 1000 in the respective periods. 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 29 

We are inclined to think, however, that the number of deaths by intemper- 
ance has not increased so much as the above statement might indicate, but that 
a different name may have been sometimes given to this cause of death. The 
cause of the disease, and not the disease itself, may have been entered. An 
inspection of the table will show great inequalities in the number of entries 
under different years from other causes. This is especially the case with 
Atrophy, under which are included the entries by " debility," " decline," 
" cachexia," " emaciation," " marasmus," &c. Since the laws of sporadic 
diseases are such, as to produce about the same proportion of deaths in the 
same population, in specific periods of time, it is certain that these entries 
cannot be relied on as being accurate causes of death. The whole number 
by all this class of diseases was 2266, 1841, and 2163, or 267.6, 160.5, and 
148.4 per 1000 of the whole deaths, showing considerable improvement in 
diagnosis, but showing also that much is yet to be done before the tables 
can be made as accurate as they should be. 

10. Old Age.. — The entries under the very indefinite term " Old age" 
were 379, 420, and 581, or 44.8, 36.6, and 39.9 per 1000 in the respective 
periods. It is worthy of consideration whether many of these cases might 
not have been entered under some specific disease. 

11. Deaths by Violence. — The greatest number from any single cause 
of death under this class is by Droivning, the proportion of which has 
varied, but not increased. The next greatest is inserted under the very inde- 
finite name of Casualties, including all who die from accidental causes. The 
next are by Burns and Scalds. The deaths by Suicide have stood 29, 50, 
and 95, or 3.4, 4.3, and 6.5 per 1000 in the respective periods, showing a 
small increase. Murders have decreased. The whole number by this 
class are 305, 499, and 611, or 36.0, 43.5, 41.9 per 1000 in the different 
periods, showing but little variation. 

12. Unknoivn Causes. — The tables state the number of deaths, of which 
the causes are unknown, to have been 945, 1917, and 1251, or 111.6, 167.1, 
and 85.8 per 1000 in the different periods. This number has varied, and is 
now considerably decreased in proportion to the whole deaths, but it is still 
very much greater -than it should be. Greater care on the part of the medi- 
cal profession, and in making the records would reduce it. 

From this view of the causes of death in Boston it appears that 1193, 
2037, and 3622 cases, or 140.8, 177.7, and 248.6 per 1000 of all the deaths 
were from epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases; and that 7275, 9433, 
and 10951 cases or 859.2, 822.3, and 751.4 per 1000 of all the deaths were 
from sporadic diseases. This shows an increase of the first, and a decrease 
of the second division of diseases, in the respective periods. If, as has been 
stated, the great criterion of health is the comparative prevalence of one or 
the other of these two great divisions of diseases, it follows that Boston is 
not now quite as healthy as it was twenty or thirty years ago. This fact, 
I think, may be inferred also from other investigations given in this article. 



30 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 

Table X, showing the number of deaths in Boston 



--■ 

a 
s 

5 

- 

o 
~l 
Ed 

s 

'J 

1« 

cd 

'_' 

i 
— 

W 
1 

■a 

e 
B 

td 
u 

1" 
-5 

r3 


A 


1. F«»ers. • 

2. Eruptive Fe- < 

tiers. 

3. JVbt Classi- , 

fied. ' 

< 

1. Of the Ner- 
vous System 
and Senses. 

Brain, Spinal ' 

Marrow, 

Nerves, Eyes, 

Ears. 

2. Of the Or- 
gans of Res- 
piration. 

Larynx, 

Windpipe, 

Air tubes, 

Lungs, Pleura. 

3. Of the Or- 
gans of Cir- 
culation. 

Heart, Arte- 
ries, Veins, 
Lymphatics. 

1 

4. Of the Di- 
gestive Or- 
gans. 

Mouth, CEso- 
phagus, Sto- 
mach, Small 
Intestines, 
Colon, Rectum, 
Pancreas, Liv- 
er, Gall-Blad- 
der, Spleen. 


'Intermittent 
Synochua 

Spotted 
Typhus 
Yellow 

Total 

'Erysipelas 
Measles 
Scarlatina 
Small-Pox 
Thrush 

Total 

r Cholera 
Croup 
Dysentery 
Hydrophobia 
Hooping-cough 
Influenza 
Syphilis 

Total 

'Apoplexy 
Convulsions 
Delirium Tremens 
Epilepsy 
Hydrocephalus 
Insanity 
Paralysis 
Phrenitis 
Tetanus 
Disease 

Total 

' Asthma 
Bronchitis 
Hydrothorax 
Pleurisy 
Phthisis 
Pneumonia 
Quinsy 
Disease 

Total 

Aneurism 

Pericarditis 

Disease 

Total 

L 

Ascites 

Colic 

Constipation 

Dyspepsia 

Enteritis 

Gastritis 

Hernia 

Peritonitis 

Tabes Mesenterica 

Teething 

Worms 

Disease 

Disease of the Pancreas 

Hepatitis 

Jaundice 

Disease of the Liver 

Disease of the Spleen 

Total 


1811 

12 

63 

75 

1 
o 

3 

63 

1 

29 

14 

12 

119 

13 
40 

33 

1 

12 

2 
101 

8 
221 

46 
15 

290 

1 

1 
2 

2 

15 
1 
1 
3 

15 

11 

10 

58 


1812 

4 
23 

27 

2 
1 
2 

" 
5 

15 

12 

6 
2 
6 
1 
1 

43 
2 

2 
190 
40 
17 

251 

1 
1 

2 

2 

1 
10 

1 

- 

20 


1813 

6 
42 

48 

1 

1 

5 
1 
5 

1 

12 

15 
21 

2 
6 

I 

45 

I 

2 

7 

193 

41 

8 

252 

1 
1 

2 
18 

2 

5 
25 


1814 

C 
80 

86 
1 

I 

3 
2 
4 
1 
5 

15 

3 

15 

3 

2 

9 
1 
2 
1 

36 

3 
153 

26 
10 

192 

1 

3 

2 

6 


1815 

2 
51 

53 

21 
4 

25 

1 
6 
12 

2 
1 

22 

3 
23 

3 
2 
11 
3 

2 

47 

2 

190 

67 

7 

266 

1 

2 

3 
1 

7 


1816 

10 

23 
10 

43 

6 
3 

9 

5 

4 
6 

9 

24 

18 
18 

12 
2 
8 
1 
1 
1 

61 

1 

180 
61 
16 

258 

1 

1 

18 

1 

2 
3 
1 

25 


1817 

12 

59 

71 
1 

1 

8 
11 
23 

19 

61 

17 
42 

6 
6 

1 

72 

4 
231 

47 
6 

288 

2 
2 

12 

2 

3 
15 


1818 

1 

7 

119 
1 

128 

I 
1 

2 

3 
5 

4 

1 

13 

9 
29 

4 

6 
2 

50 

3 

13,1 
36 
4 

181 

1 
5 
6 

12 
1 

5 


1819 

42 

112 
1 

155 
12 

12 

18 
9 
13 

3 
2 

45 

6 
20 

23 
3 

1 
53 

3 

175 

46 

4 

228 

3 
3 

2 

7 
7 

6 
1 

24 


1820 

1 

9 

1 

51 

1 

63 
10 

10 

14 
3 

17 

24 
4 
64 

10 
19 

2 
16 

7 

54 

o 

220 

26 

6 

254 

8 
~7 

1 

11 
5 

3 

3 
3 

6 
1 

33 


Tota: 

2 

110 

1 

623 

13 


749 

1 
28 
29 

6 

64 

122 

43 

115 

1 

78 
5 
16 

380 

109 
229 

86 
14 
80 
22 

7 
5 

502 

3 

2 
35 

1891 

436 

93 


2400 

2 
22 


24 

2 
5 

89 
6 
1 

8 

3 
39 
21 

1 

25 

30 

1 

231 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston, 
by disease in each year, from 1S11 to 1839. 



31 



1821 


1822 


1.-23 


1821 


1.-25 
1 


1826 


IS-J7 


1828 
2 


1 


1830 
1 


Total 


1831 


1832 
1 


1833 


1834 


1835 
4 


1836 
2 


1837 
3 


1838 


1839 

1 


Total 
13 


5 


2 


lb 


10 


- 


19 


12 


22 


9 


21 


8 


14 


133 


15 


5 


20 


8 


23 


13 


- 


3 


9 


96 


- 


- 


- 


1 


1 












2 


1 


















1 


45 


34 


43 


62 


54 


50 


46 


46 


45 


33 


458 


43 


60 


73 


70 


101 


68 


93 


43 


60 


611 


63 


2 

46 


1 

44 


1 

83 


68 


1 
73 


55 


69 


I 
55 


48 


6 


61 


66 


93 


78 


128 


83 


96 


46 


70 


721 


C04 


_ 


_ 


_ 


_ 


1 


_ 


8 


3 


_ 


_ 


12 


2 


4 


4 


12 


9 


3 


6 


17 


8 


65 


140 


3 


- 


2 


77 


10 


- 


- 


78 


13 


332 


2 


70 


o 


1 


188 


31 


23 


20 


3 


340 


4 


1 


1 


- 


4 


16 


8 


3 


4 


5 


46 


84 


200 


90 


39 


73 


31 


50 


106 


•K)0 


895 


- 


- 


- 


1 


1 


- 


3 


2 


- 


1 


8 


4 


2 


- 


4 


7 


6 


13 


3 


60 


99 


153 


4 


1 


1 
4 


83 


26 


19 


1 
9 


1 

83 


1 

20 


4 


92 


276 


96 


56 


3 

280 


71 


92 


140 


293 


3 

1402 


402 


15 


5 


15 


18 


24 


17 


8 


26 


1 


20 


149 


21 


93 


20 


30 


30 


30 


80 


61 


42 


407 


11 


10 


13 


30 


30 


24 


25 


25 


35 


42 


245 


53 


40 


43 


43 


32 


31 


44 


44 


46 


376 


73 


40 


37 


69 


60 


48 


27 


31 


21 


23 


429 


29 


24 


41 


48 


45 


38 


45 


65 


37 


372 


26 


5 


17 


13 


27 


23 


6 


40 


11 


16 


184 


26 


22 


28 


38 


44 


17 


19 


28 


34 


256 


- 


- 


- 


- 


7 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 


7 


22 


24 


1 


4 


2 


2 


15 


2 


_ 


72 


1 


2 


1 


3 


3 


1 


1 


3 


1 


1 


17 


- 


4 


- 


3 


2 


- 


4 


2 


1 


16 


126 


62 


83 


133 


151 


113 


67 


125 


69 


102 


1031 


151 


207 


133 


166 


155 


118 


207 


202 


162 


1499 


7 


6 


11 


9 


12 


10 


10 


18 


12 


12 


107 


11 


15 


19 


9 


19 


19 


31 


19 


20 


162 


22 


11 


22 


36 


48 


53 


29 


32 


28 


28 


309 


34 


41 


39 


50 


51 


50 


52 


60 


42 


419 


5 




7 


4 


7 


5 


1 


7 




2 


38 


6 


10 


3 


1 


4 


5 


11 


10 


8 


58 


1 


2 


1 


2 




1 


3 




2 




12 


. 


1 


1 


1 


2 






o 


2 


9 


6 


1 


11 


33 


38 


29 


24 


38 


42 


48 


270 


51 


44 


52 


53 


48 


68 


59 


67 


56 


498 


4 


o 




2 


. 


1 


5 


1 


3 


4 


22 


1 




. 


1 


10 


4 






3 


19 


22 


10 


5 


12 


14 


9 


6 


10 


11 


14 


113 


11 


19 


12 


13 


19 


11 


13 


7 


14 


119 


15 


17 


16 




3 


3 


7 


5 


7 


- 


73 






11 


10 




5 


23 


25 


11 


85 


. 


1 


. 


o 




1 


- 


1 


1 




6 




1 


. 


1 


1 


2 


. 




1 


6 


- 


1 


1 


- 


1 


6 


6 




7 


8 


30 


15 


19 


7 


10 


8 


15 


31 


23 


12 


140 


82 


51 


74 


100 


123 


118 


91 


112 


113 


116 


980 


129 


180 


144 


149 


102 


179 


220 


213 


160 


1515 


1 


2 


1 


o 


2 


1 


2 


1 




1 


13 


1 


1 


3 


4 
1 




4 


2 
1 


2 
1 


8 
1 


25 
6 


2 


. 


5 


14 


3 


9 


6 


1 


4 


3 


47 


4 


6 


7 


1 




6 


9 


5 


3 


41 


. 


5 


4 


7 


6 


7 


3 


2 


4 


2 


40 


4 


3 


8 


11 


13 


14 


18 


10 


2 


83 


216 


166 


184 


246 


220 


231 


178 


217 


203 


193 


2054 


203 


246 


240 


246 


208 


233 


212 


256 


222 


2066 


31 


4! 


38 


77 


67 


41 


36 


89 


90 


68 


5r0 


97 


106 


77 


90 


141 


99 


114 


113 


100 


937 


fl 


7 


5 


11 




5 


2 


1 


3 


4 


43 


5 


1 6 


2 


3 


6 


5 






3 


30 


- 


- 


- 


15 


• 


2 




2 


6 


■ 


25 






3 


5 


1 


3 


8 


2 


4 


26 


255 


221 


237 
1 


372 

7 


298 


296 


229 
1 


313 


310 


271 


2802 

1 

8 


316 


368 


340 


361 


369 


364 
1 


364 
3 


389 
3 


343 


3214 

4 
5 


5 
5 


3 
3 


8 
9 


4 
11 


10 
10 


14 
14 


7 
8 


7 
7 


10 
10 


13 
13 


81 
90 


15 

15 


13 
13 


16 
16 


25 
25 


14 
14 


23 
24 


27 
32 


28 
31 


30 
30 


191 


200 


. 


3 


1 


2 


4 
3 


4 


2 


3 


3 


2 


24 
3 
15 


4 


4 


4 


1 


- 


. 


10 


2 


5 


30 


3 




3 




1 


1 


. 








1 


. 


2 


3 


3 


1 


. 


1 


11 


10 




15 


13 
4 


15 


24 
1 


12 


33 

2 


21 


14 
2 


162 
9 


18 


31 


23 
1 


38 


30 


35 


41 
3 


54 

6 


50 


320 
10 


- 




2 


2 
1 


2 
3 


2 


- 


1 


1 


1 


12 
4 


1 


- 


■ 


• 


" 


" 


1 
1 


3 


* 


5 
1 






o 


10 


15 


8 


23 




13 


12 


83 


10 


21 


30 


36 


24 


5 


22 


30 


29 


247 






3 


3 


3 


4 


4 


1 


3 


1 


26 


3 


7 


7 


5 


6 


7 


4 


3 


9 


51 


1 






22 


41 
16 


25 
1 


39 


20 


18 

1 


16 


182 

18 


28 


38 


31 


29 


44 





7 


10 


33 


310 


3 




3 


. 


10 


5 


3 


2 


1 




34 


1 


3 


5 


2 


1 


1 


1 


4 


3 


21 


5 




6 


. 


. 


II 


7 


10 


14 


17 


70 


11 


9 


12 


8 


25 


14 


8 


5 


9 


101 


1 
23 


20 


35 


57 


119 


86 


91 


72 


1 

76 


65 1 


2 1 


114 


113 


121 


133 


195 


99 


117 


139 




644 1 


77 


1107 



32 



Shattnck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



Table X, showing the number of deaths in Boston 









1811 

14 
14 

1 
2 

3 

2 
20 

5 
28 
21 

3 

4 

2 
11 
25 

121 

26 

6 
10 

2 
13 

1 

38 
43 


1812 

1 

1 
5 

5 

16 

1 
133 

12 

4 
24 

190 
35 

2 
6 

10 
1 

3 

22 
32 


1813 

1 

1 
5 

5 

1 

1 

17 
I 
1 

206 

7 
11 

245 

48 

2 
9 

15 

1 
1 

28 
39 


1814 

6 
6 

1 
1 

1 
17 
2 

208 

8 

1 

14 

251 

39 

5 
3 

10 

1 
19 
43 


1815 

4 
4 

1 
1 

1 
6 

14 
1 

222 

6 

1 

11 

262 

44 

5 
4 

12 

1 
1 

6 

29 
71 


1816 

12 
12 

3 
1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

37 

2 

12 

1 
195 

3 

13 

21 

286 

37 

5 
5 

12 

2 

4 

28 
84 


1817 

3 

3 
3 

3 

7 
7 

3 

11 

36 

3 
157 

3 

9 

1 

13 

236 
50 

9 

7 

13 
1 

3 
33 
32 


1818 


1819 

2 
2 

6 
6 

1 
1 

3 
9 
23 

5 

147 

11 

1 
13 

212 
29 

3 

8 
2 
13 

1 
1 
1 

4 

33 

178 


1820 

2 

2 

8 
1 

9 

3 
1 

4 

1 

1 

4 

14 

4 

4 

163 

31 

7 
8 
9 

246 

39 

3 
12 
1 
9 
1 

4 
2 

3 

6 
41 

187 


Total 


Ed 

5. 

O 1 

a 

a 
a. 

M 


'. „,,, , T . f Diabetes 

5. Of the Urin- c jsig 

ary Organs. | j/ ephriti8 

xr-j tt •> Stone 
^"T'hhTI Disease 
ters, Bladder, 

Urethra. [ Tota , 

<• r.* ..!. y-> fChildbed 

6. 0/ the O r . \ 

gans of Gen- < 


1 
1 

2 

4 

4 
1 


2 
6 

1 


9 

63 
1 


eration. 

7. Of the Or-] 
gans of Lo- 
comotion. 

Joints, Bones, 

Ligaments, 
Tendons, Mus- 
cles. 

8. Of the In- 
tegumentary 
System. 

Skin, Cellular 
Tissue. 

9. Of uncertain 
seat. ■> 

k 
10 OfOldJlge.- 

11. Deaths by < 
Violence. 


Total 

Rheumatism < 
Disease 

Total 

'Carbuncle 
Fistula 
Ulcer 
Disease 

I Total 

r Abscess 
Atrophy 
Cancer 
Debility 
Dropsy 
Gout 

Hemorrhage 
Infantile Diseases 
Inflammation 
Intemperance 
Malformation 
Mortification 
Scrofula 
Sudden Deaths 
Tumor 

Total 

-Old Age 

'Burns and Scalds 
Casualties 
Drinking Cold Water 
Drowned 
Fracture 
Frozen 
Hanged 
Murdered 
Poisoned 
Suffocation 
Suicide 

Total 

Unknown Causes 


64 

20 
6 

26 

1 

2 


2 
15 

1 

21 
3 

1 
1 

3 
23 


1 

} 
I 

i 
1 

i 

3 
i 
I 

_> 
2 

7 

I 

i 

1 

"i 

1 
1 

7 


3 

13 

58 
32 
44 
193 
12 
23 
1587 

65 

69 

14 

153 

3 

2266 

379 

42 

84 

7 

119 

2 

5 
6 
6 
5 
29 

305 

945 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston, 
by disease in each year, from 1811 to 1839.. — continued. 



33 



1821 


1822 


1823 1824 


1825 


1820 


1827 


1828 


1829 


1831) 


rotal 


1831 


1832 


1833 


1834 1 


1835 


1836 


1837 


838 


1839 Total 










i 




1 


1 




1 


3 
1 








1 


< 


1 


2 


1 




5 


1 


3 


2 


2 


2 


4 


2 


1 


2 


2 


21 




1 




1 


1 


3 






1 


7 


1 


3 


3 
5 


1 
3 


3 


4 


3 


2 


2 


1 
4 


5 




2 
3 


1 
1 


3 
5 


1 


1 
5 


2 
4 


i 

2 


1 


10 

22 


30 


7 


9 


5 


13 


17 


12 


11 


14 


17 


16 


121 


14 


14 


17 


14 


29 


23 


19 


27 


18 


175 


2 






4 






1 


2 


2 




11 




1 






1 


2 


5 


7 


1 


17 


9 


9 


5 


17 


17 


12 


12 


16 


19 


16 


132 


14 


15 


17 


14 


30 


25 


24 


34 


19 


192 


6 


2 


2 


9 


6 


4 


4 


2 


3 


2 


40 


4 


3 


4 


5 


4 


7 


3 


6 


4 


40 


2 

8 


1 
3 


2 

4 


3 
12 


2 
8 


2 
6 


1 
5 


1 
3 


3 
6 


4 
6 


21 

61 


2 

6 


3 
6 


5 
9 


2 
7 


3 

7 


4 
11 


3 


5 
11 


4 

8 


28 


68 






1 


1 




2 


1 


3 


1 


'l 


3 

7 


1 


















1 














1 




1 




2 


3 


2 


1 


1 


9 


1 


3 






20 




1 






1 


3 










5 


1 


1 




1 


2 










5 




1 


1 


1 


1 


5 


2 


3 


2 


1 


17 


5 


3 


1 


2 


11 


1 


3 






26 


3 


5 


4 


9 


2 


6 


2 


2 


1 


3 


37 


4 


8 


4 


4 




3 


5 


5 


5 


38 


1 


1 


9 


13 


12 












36 






2 


10 


31 


23 


32 


54 


34 


186 


3 


12 


3 


9 


7 


6 


4 


5 


3 


6 


58 


5 


5 


12 


15 


9 


6 


14 


12 


8 


86 


8 


4 


6 


16 




18 


6 


6 


10 


8 


82 


20 


15 


12 


13 


29 


11 


1 


5 


11 


117 


32 


43 


18 


12 


28 


32 


25 


20 


12 


15 


237 


28 


38 


24 


27 


38 


35 


42 


23 


28 


283 




1 


2 


2 


1 


1 






1 




8 






1 


1 




1 








3 


1 


2 
















7 


10 














3 


4 


5 


12 


153 


244 


184 


32 


44 


40 


35 


55 


55 


41 


883 


56 


70 


100 


95 


111 


176 


59 


112 


88 


867 








3 




3 


4 


4 


11 


1 


26 


3 


3 




1 


2 


1 


4 


20 


1 


35 


31 


25 


10 


22 


23 


38 


25 


34 


30 


19 


257 


38 


44 


40 


39 


37 


41 


17 


24 
1 


30 
1 


310 
2 


8 


8 


4 


12 


8 


9 


9 


7 


8 


4 


77 


9 


9 


4 


9 


10 


6 


11 


3 




61 


5 


2 


4 


3 


4 


1 


2 


5 


4 


5 


35 


2 


3 


5 


8 


13 


9 


13 


5 


7 


65 


6 


9 


5 


7 


35 




3 


2 


7 


9 


83 


5 


9 


5 


4 


12 


12 




13 


10 


70 


1 






2 


1 


2 


3 


• 




3 


12 


5 


2 


2 


2 


7 


1 


i 


3 


5 


28 


252 


356 


249 


142 


165 


156 


118 


140 


142 


121 


1841 


175 


206 


211 


228 


299 


325 


202 


284 


233 


2163 


31 


36 


39 


33 


38 


40 


37 


54 


65 


47 


420 


67 


62 


57 


54 


72 


82 


69 


65 


53 


581 


14 


4 


3 


15 


5 


13 


8 





5 


10 


86 


16 


10 


11 


5 


11 


10 


12 


20 


15 


110 


18 


17 


24 


2 

2 


11 
6 


14 


14 


14 


12 


8 


134 
10 


14 

1 


18 


19 


22 
~1 


25 
1 


32 


14 


22 
3 


16 


182 
6 


19 


21 


16 
2 


18 


21 

i 


22 

1 
1 


21 


16 

2 


19 
1 


15 

2 


188 
5 
4 
1 


15 
1 
1 


22 


10 

2 


25 

i 


16 

7 


17 

1 

2 


23 


19 
1 


30 

2 


177 

7 
2 
9 


1 


fi 






l 












8 








1 




3 






i 


5 










i 


1 


1 


2 


1 




6 


i 






3 


1 






4 


i 


10 


1 


2 




1 


i 




1 




1 




7 


2 


2 


2 






2 








8 


2 
55 


5 
55 


3 

48 


5 
43 


4 
51 


5 
57 


4 
49 


9 
54 


5 
44 


8 
43 


50 


12 

63 


8 
60 


14 

68 


ii 

69 


9 
70 


13 

80 


lb 

59 


8 

77 


i 

75 


95 
611 


499 


241 


218 


211 


197 


227 


161 


153 


180 


160 


152 


1917 


182 


126 


85 


105 


88 


85 


269 


182 


129 


1251 



34 



Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 



Table XI, showing the number of deaths, and the ratio per 1000 by each class of diseases, 
in the three periods, 1811-1820, 1821-1830, and 1831-1839. 



Diseases. 


1811- 


• 1820. 


1821- 


•1830. 


1831-1S39. 


i\ umber 


Ratio 


Mi in her 


Ratio 


Number Ratio 




ofd'ths, 


per 1000. 


ofd'ths. 


per 1000 


ofd'ths. per 1000. 


Fevers, - 


749 


88.4 


604 


52.7 


721 


49.5 


Eruptive Fevers, - - - - 


64 


7.5 


402 


35.1 


1402 


96.2 


Not classified, .... 
Total Epidemic, Endemic, &c. diseases, 
Nervous system, - - - - 


380 


44.9 


1031 


89.9 


1499 


102.9 


1193 


140.8 


2037 


177.7 


3622 


248.6 


562 


66.4 


980 


85.4 


1515 


104.0 


Organs of Respiration, - - - 


2460 


290.5 


2802 


244.3 


3214 


220.5 


Organs of Circulation, ... 


25 


2.9 


90 


7.9 


200 


13.7 


Digestive Organs, - - - - 


231 


27.3 


644 


56.1 


1107 


76.0 


Urinary Organs, - 


9 


1.1 


30 


2.6 


22 


1.5 


Organs of Generation, - 


64 


7.6 


132 


11.5 


192 


13.2 


Organs of Locomotion, - 


26 


3.1 


61 


5.3 


68 


4.7 


Integumentary System, 


3 


.3 


17 


1.5 


26 


1.8 


Uncertain seat, - - - - - 


2266 


267.6 


1841 


160.5 


2163 


14S.4 


Old Age, 


379 


44.8 


420 


36.6 


581 


39.9 


Deaths by violence, - - - - 


305 


36.0 


499 


43.5 


611 


41.9 


Unknown causes, - 
Total Sporadic diseases, ... 
General Total, - - - - 


945 


111.6 


1917 


167.1 


1251 


85.8 


7275 


859.2 


9433 


822.3 


10951 


751.4 


8468 


1000.0 


11470 


1000.0 


14573 


1000.0 



This article has already extended so far that the author is induced to 
omit all comparisons between Boston and other places, in regard to the pre- 
valence of particular diseases, or the general mortality. He has a series 
of the bills of mortality of the principal cities in the United States, and a 
great mass of similar facts from Europe, which he reserves for a future con- 
sideration. 



Since the foregoing article was in the hands of the printer the population 
of Boston, and the bill of mortality for 1840 have been obtained; and it is 
deemed expedient to annex the following abstract of these documents. 

A census was taken by authority of the state, on the first day of May, for 
the purpose of an apportionment of the representatives in the legislature, 
which excluded some classes of the inhabitants. According to the census of 
the United States the whole population was 93,470, whites 91,188, or 97.55 
per cent., and coloured 2321, or 2.55 per cent. Of these 10,805 were 
returned as engaged in navigation, a large portion of whom, being constantly 
absent, should not be embraced in the comparative estimates of the deaths to 
the living. The white population, among whom the recorded deaths occur, 
may be estimated at 84,311, and the coloured at 2321. The deaths in 1840, 
exclusive of the still born, were 1841 whites, or 1 in 47, or 2.10 per cent, 
and 64 coloured, or 1 in 36, or 2.75 per cent, being about the average for the 



Mitchener's Case of Malformation. 



35 



previous years. The whites were distributed according to ages, as in the 
following table. The male deaths were 951, and the female 890. There 
were 45 more males than females died under five years of age. 



Age. 


Population in 1840. 


| 


Deaths in 1840. 


Number 


Number 


Proport'n 


Proport'n 


Number 


Number 


Proport'n 


Proport'n Proport'n 


in each 


surviving 


in each 


surviving 


in each 


surviving 


in each 


survivingl to living 




age. 


each age. 


age. 


each age. 


age. 


each age. 


age. 


each age each age. 


Under 5 


11393 


84.311 


13.51 


100. 


784 


1777 


44.12 


100.00 


6.88 


5 to 10 


8725 


79.918 


10.35 


86.49 


70 


993 


3.94 


55.88 


.80 


10 to 20 


15809 


64.193 


18.75 


76.14 


100 


923 


5.63 


51.94 


.63 


20 to 30 


22337 


48.384 


26.49 


57.39 


200 


823 


11.26 


46.31 


.99 


30 to 40 


13666 


26.047 


16.21 


30.90 


226 


623 


12.72 


35.05 


1.65 


40 to 50 


6546 


12.381 


7.77 


14.69 


133 


597 


7.48 


22.33 


2.03 


50 to 60 


3404 


5.835 


4.04 


6 92 


110 


464 


6.19 


14.85 


3.23 


60 to 70 


1561 


2.431 


1.85 


2.88 


69 


154 


3.S8 


8.66 


4.42 


70 to 80 


641 


.870 


.76 


1.03 


47 


85 


2 64 


4.78 


7.33 


80 to 90 


202 


.229 


.24 


.27 


33 


38 


1.86 


2.14 


15.95 


Over 90 


27 


.027 


.03 


.03 


5 


5 


.28 


.28 


18.55 


84311 




100.00 




1777 




100.00 




2.10 



Diseases. — Of 533 deaths caused by endemic, epidemic, and contagious 
diseases, 97 were from fevers, 202 from eruptive fevers, and 234 from others 
not classified. Of these 89 were by typhus fever, 76 by scarlatina, 116 by 
small pox, 55 by cholera, 58 by dysentery, and 70 by whooping cough, 
showing, by comparing it with Table X, an increased prevalence of some 
diseases, and a decrease of others. 

Of the 1308 deaths caused by sporadic diseases, 200 were by diseases of 
the nervous system, 402 of the organs of respiration, 18 of the organs of cir- 
culation, 126 of the organs of digestion, 1 of the urinary organs, 24 of the 
organs of generation, 8 of the organs of locomotion, 5 of the integumentary 
system, 295 of uncertain seat, 64 of old age, 79 by violence, and 86 by 
unknown causes. The stillborn were 131. This shows no peculiar feature 
in the prevalence of these diseases, when compared with the prevalence of 
the same diseases for the previous nine years. 



